I'm joining an Air Guard unit so I'm beginning to get a peak into AF culture. I've also done a joint tour with the AF (a HQ tour, not down range), so I now consider myself an expert all things AF (kidding).
Guys dropping ordnance on assholes enjoy doing it, no doubt. But with exception of the ISIS fight, in which the gloves are off, the last 8+ years in the 'Stan and Iraq, they have not been dropping much at all. Lots of loitering on station, bound by byzantine ROE, and frequently away from their families. I love giving the AF a hard time as the next guy, and make no mistake; they have bureaucracy that puts the Soviet Union to shame, but they also have a large number of genuine, red-blooded, steely eyed killers in their ranks. Guys who stay fit, work hard, are smart, and just want to put paid to a few of the assholes in the world. More than the other services, I feel that the aggressive mentality of AF guys is hindered by their service culture. As such, they want to leave - and I don't blame them a bit.
I'd be curious to know if the guys who are deployed to the ISIS fight, and delivering freedom, are having the same retention issues.